Eight women and two men were arrested by officers of the Woodbrook Police Station on Thursday and charged with prostitution. The ten were arrested in a police exercise led by Sgt Valentine Millette and including Cpl Sealey, WPC Woodley and PC Reyes. When the 10 appeared in court on Friday, the matter was adjourned to Monday. Police officers said yesterday that prostitution has increased in Woodbrook and residents of the area have been clamouring for more police presence and arrests. Senior officers said yesterday that several exercises are planned.
How can the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) justify the use of public funds to pay for SEA (Secondary Entrance Assessment) students at private secondary schools when there is more than enough accommodation at the Government schools? That was the query put forward last week by THA Chief Secretary and Secretary for Education, Orville London, in response to a call from the principals of these private schools. The call by the principals is among several proposals they put forward in a letter to London following a decision by the THA that SEA students will no longer be placed at the private schools from September. For the past several years, SEA students were routinely placed at the private schools with the THA footing the bill. This was due to the shortage of secondary school places in the island. However, with the construction of three new Government secondary schools in Tobago, two of which are to come on stream in September, there are now more school places than students, according to London. It was in this context that the THA took the decision to stop placing SEA students at the private schools.
The principals are however upset over the move which they say can spell the closure of these private institutions, and are seeking an urgent meeting with London. Among other things, they have called for “the placement of one class of Form One students (about 40 students) at each school (St Joseph’s Convent, Harmon’s SDA, Elizabeth’s College) for the next three years.” London said he would meet with the principals, but noted, in the reality of things, their position was untenable. “That request will be very difficult to justify”, he told Sunday Newsday. He noted that the number of available First Form places at Government/Government-assisted secondary schools in September was 1050, while only 915 students would be entering school. “It means therefore even utilising the present stock, there is in fact likely to be a surplus of places. It will therefore be very irresponsible and difficult to justify, for us to go and pay for 120 of those students to go into private secondary school when we have a surplus of places for them in the Government and Government-assisted schools”, London emphasised. “What we are hoping therefore is to be able to sit down with the private secondary schools and see how they can adjust their focus so that they can continue contributing to the educational thrust without, in any way, having to utilise monies that would have normally been paid for places in secondary schools.”
PORT ELIZABETH: A controversial penalty converted by Lesley Manyathela handed South Africa a 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly football international yesterday. Manyathela converted the 71st minute kick after Trinidad goalkeeper Clayton Ince had been penalised for knocking over then striker as he tried to punch a high cross into the penalty area. Trinidad had defender Brent Sancho sent off by referee Boniface Mpofu from Botswana in the subsequent protest, putting a damper on what had been a spirited encounter in a match staged as part of the South Africa’s 2010 World Cup bid. Manyathela gave South Africa the lead with a thundering shot in the 20th minute which caught Ince, from English club Crewe Alexandria, unawares and left his despairing dive too late. But the Caribbean islanders equalised within four minutes when South Africa goalkeeper Brian Baloyi was caught out of position by a looping header from Nigel Pierre and defender Tony Coyle helped the ball into the back of his own net as he attempted to clear.
South Africa, using the match as preparation for next week’s African Nations Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast, had other chances but either shot wide or found Ince blocking their progress. The match was the third international on a two-week African tour for Trinidad and Tobago, who drew matches in Kenya and Botswana. “The referee killed it for us, up until that decision we were competitive and things could have turned out a lot differently,” said Trinidad and Tobago coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier. The result brought an emotive reaction from South African coach Ephraim Mashaba, who had been sidelined for the country’s previous match against England on May 22 after refusing to pick players from European-based clubs. Mashaba, reinstated after the international in Durban, shed a tear at the end of the match and said: “After what I’ve been through over the last month you can understand there is a lot of emotion.” Mashaba played with an exclusively home based side in yesterday’s match but is expected to have players like English-based striker Shaun Bartlett and Ajax Amsterdam’s Steven Pienaar in his team for the match against the Ivorians at Polokwane on June 22.
KINGSTOWN: Heavy showers forced Sri Lanka and the West Indies President’s XI cricket teams to abandon yesterday’s first day of play with just 18 of the mandatory 90 overs bowled in the three-day tour match in St. Vincent. St. Vincent umpires Golan Greaves and Garry White called a washout after the ran began five minutes before the end of lunch. Early morning showers had also delayed the morning session by half an hour. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat. By lunch, the visitors had 46 for one, with Marvan Attapatu on 16 and Kumar Sangakkara on 26. The lone wicket to fall was that of experienced opener Sanath Jayasuriya, who was run out in the day’s fifth over with the total on seven. Jayasuriya went after failing to beat a throw from Dave Bernard Jr. to Darren Powell at the bowler’s end. Powell turned the ball onto the stump, with the batsman attempting a second run to a vacant mid-on by his opening partner, Attapatu.
Attapatu and Sangakkara then raised the score to 39 for the second wicket on a slow pitch and rain-soaked outfield. Left-handed Sangakkara struck four fours in his 32-ball stay in the middle, while Attapatu took 66 balls in 95 minutes at the crease. The first boundary of the innings came in the 10th over when Sangakkara pulled Bernard to the midwicket fence to push the total to 22. He followed with three more boundaries, displaying clinical precision in dispatching the bad balls. West Indies fastbowlers Darren Powell, Tino Best and Jerome Taylor, along with seamer Bernard and wrist-spinner Dave Mohammed, attacked with bowling that was steady but not enough to trouble Sri Lanka. Rains were expected last night and today, threatening the second day of play in the tour match. Next, Sri Lanka play two Tests against the West Indies, the first on June 20-24 in St. Lucia and the second on June 27-July 1 in Jamaica.
Former Trinidad and Tobago football captain Russell Latapy has joined the Scottish First Division champion team Falkirk on a one-year contract, his local manager said yesterday. Latapy, considered on of the Caribbean’s best in the sport, joins fellow Trinidadian John Hughes on the team, for which he will work to recruit other countrymen as both player and an assistant coach, manager Wayne Mandeville said. “This move could well open up the door for several other players” who have impressed Latapy in the past, Mandeville said, adding that Latapy was near to receiving his English FA Level “A” coaching licence. The 34-year-old Latapy recently turned down an offer to extend his six-month stint with Dundee United in Scotland. He has also played with FC Porto in Portugal, and the Hibernian and Rangers in Scotland.
FOOTBALL League CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh will be looking to hold off the challenge of runners-up W Connection in the T&T Pro League today. Jabloteh, atop the table with 13 points after five rounds of the 2003 season, will maintain their lead with victory over Arima Fire at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima. If Jabloteh is held to a draw by Fire, who is eighth on the standings with five points, Connection can regain the lead if they can trounce South West Institute of Football (SWIF) at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground. South Starworld Strikers, who are having an impressive season, will host the improving Defence Force at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium while Joe Public will meet Tobago United at the Marvin Lee Stadium. And North East Stars will be looking to halt a slide of two straight defeats when they meet the cellar-placed Caledonia AIA at the Ato Boldon Stadium. Senior league matches will kick off at 4 pm, with the Under-20s taking place two hours earlier. Connection, Jabloteh and Starworld are all locked on 10 points atop the Under-20 standings.
STANDINGS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
San Juan Jabloteh |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
15 |
4 |
13 |
W Connection |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
11 |
Starworld Strikers |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
5 |
10 |
Joe Public |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
Defence Force |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
North East Stars |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
SWIF |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
Arima Fire |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
5 |
Tobago United |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
Caledonia AIA |
5 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under-20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
W Connection |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
6 |
10 |
San Juan Jabloteh |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
4 |
10 |
Starworld Strikers |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
6 |
10 |
Arima Fire |
5 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
9 |
7 |
Caledonia AIA |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
Defence Force |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
9 |
13 |
6 |
North East Stars |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
Joe Public |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
Tobago United |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
11 |
4 |
SWIF |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
DION RODRIGUEZ edged Marcus Duncan by one hundredth of a second yesterday to claim the Boys Under-20 100 metres sprint as the National Junior Track and Field Championships began at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. The strongly-built Rodriguez, running in lane five, got off to a slow start but gradually made ground on Duncan, in lane four. The duo was neck and neck after 60 metres with Rodriguez, of Memphis Pioneers, crossing the finishing line in 10.48 seconds with Duncan, of Phoenix, next in 10.49 while Chevon Simpson of Quantum was third in 10.75. CARIFTA Games Girls Under-20 bronze medallist, the diminutive Wanda Hutson, also of Memphis, held off a late burst from Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Zenith Tobago to cop the 100m gold medal in 11.56, with Baptiste timed in 11.62 and Kerry Barrow of Falcons third in 11.96. Another pint-sized athlete, Carlan Arthur of Morvant Jets, continued his excellent 2003 season (which included gold at the CARIFTA Games held here during the Easter weekend) with victory in the Boys U-20 1,500m in four minutes 20.02 seconds, ahead of Akini Pierre of Athletic Central 4:21.57 and Kern Harripersad of Memphis 4:23.92. CARIFTA Girls Under-17 long jump gold medallist, Rhonda Watkins of Bishop Anstey, easily defeated the field with a best attempt of 5.85 metres. Liseli Eastman of Air Bon Sonics took silver with 5.35m while Venice Fredericks of Success/Laventille followed with 4.98m.
Competition continues at the Stadium from 10 am today.
Other Results
Boys U-17 110m hurdles: 1.Peter Carter (QRC) 14.42; 2.Denzil Delpeche (Memphis) 14.94; 3.Keal Armstrong (Falcons) 14.97.
Girls U-17 400m: 1.Britney St Louis (Phoenix) 58.12; 2.Gineille Felix (Memphis) 58.39; 3.Shelly McLean (Eagles) 59.72.
Boys U-17 400m: 1.Renny Quow (Zenith) 49.46; 2.Kevon Thomas (Palo Seco) 50.78; 3.Shamir Reid (Zenith) 50.86.
Girls U-20 400m: 1.Abigail David (Memphis) 54.97; 2.Dana Massiah (Concorde) 55.56; 3.Denelle De Verteuil (Phoenix) 56.78.
Boys U-20 400m: 1.Joel Pile (Phoenix) 47.64; 2.Simeon Bovell (Simplex) 47.98; 3.Deverne Charles (Zenith) 48.50.
Girls U-17 100m: 1.Jurnelle Francis (Burnley) 12.12; 2.Marsha Louis (Neon Trackers) 12.13; 3.Nichelle De Landro (Phoenix) 12.28.
Boys U-17 100m: 1.Marlon Douglas (Phoenix) 10.98; 2.Kester Charles (Zenith) 11.12; 3.Kashif Williams (Zenith) 11.13.
Boys U-17 1,500m: 1.Neil Francois (Health Olympians) 4:20.44; 2.Lester Herbert (Phoenix) 4:23.74; 3.Jamal Stoute (Warriors) 4:25.76.
Girls U-17 1,500m: 1.Pilar McShine (Success) 4:56.13; 2.Kema McShine (Success) 5;13.89; 3.Shermain La Saldo (Success) 5:22.20.
Girls U-20 1,500m: 1.Candice Ince (Memphis) 4:55.52; 2.Paula Jones (Neon Trackers) 5:08.68; 3.Soroya Williams (Phoenix) 5:19.19.
Girls U-17 javelin: 1.Venice Fredericks (Success) 28.98m; 2.Kimelyn Williams (Zenith) 27.69m; 3.Shakira Thompson (Morvant Jets) 23.36m.
Boys U-17 javelin: 1.Samuel Seaton (St Mary’s Home) 35.31m; 2.Mark Oliver (Eastonians) 35.00m; 3.James Eastman (Morvant Jets) 34.62m.
Girls U-17 discus: 1.Annie Alexander (Burnley) 35.10m; 2.Jodie Sutherland (Burnley) 27.56m; 3.Pilar McShine (Success) 26.90m.
Boys U-17 discus: 1.Kellon Marshall (Dovers) 40.75m; 2.Sheldon Scott (Falcons) 30.87m; 3.Brendon George (Memphis) 29.80m.
Girls U-20 discus: 1.LokToya McShine (Success) 38.35m; 2.Candice Williams (Memphis) 30.39m.
Boys U-17 high jump: 1.Peter Carter 1.87m; 2.Randy Persad (St Mary’s Home) 1.65m.
Girls U-20 long jump: 1.Michelle Cuthbert (Neon Trackers) 5.60m; 2.Diana Johnson (Morvant Jets) 4.52m.
Boys U-20 long jump: 1.Shawn Thomas (Zenith) 6.98m; 2.Tauel Missinger (Tigers) 6.70m; 3.Mikel Courtney (TAFAC) 6.64M.
Girls U-17 shot put: 1.Annie Alexander 13.59m; 2.Jodie Sutherland 8.84m; 3.Gerneiva Parkinson (Bishop’s Anstey) 7.11.
Willie Rodriguez deserves the support of the local authorities as he bids for the presidency of the West Indies Cricket Board. This is the opinion of former Test cricketer Bryan Davis against that of Alloy Lequay, local cricket chief concerning support for another regional candidate. Rodriguez, president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club is bidding to replace the Rev Wes Hall who is not standing for re-election because of health reasons. The 68-year old Rodriguez was nominated by the Jamaican Cricket Association under the leadership of former Test player Jackie Hendricks But president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC), Lequay said his board will be throwing their support behind the president of the Guyana Cricket Board, Chetram Singh. Lequay said the Guyanese bookie contacted him before the Jamaicans and he has not heard from Rodriguez. “We will be supporting Singh because he contacted us way in advance and now we cannot turn our backs on him,” said the evergreen Lequay.
Rodriguez played both cricket and football for the West Indies and was regarded as a very good leg-spinner and talented batsman. With Rev Hall not standing for re-election on July 12 and 13 at the board’s annual general meeting, Rodriguez leads a slate that includes Windwards Cricket Board president Lennox John. They will oppose Chetram Singh and Val Banks of the Leewards, the Guyanese’s running mate. Tony Marshall of Barbados initially showed interest but at the close of nominations his name was not put forward. So it will be a straight tussle between Rodriguez and Singh. Davis who is cricket manager at QPCC said : “From the moment the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) realised that a local was going up they should have told Singh that they are sorry and throw their weight behind Rodriguez.” “Nowhere in the Caribbean you would see a territory going up against their own. They at the cricket Board must realise that and put their support in the right place,” he said. “Rodriguez would make a wonderful leader should he be given the post. He has been president of Queen’s Park for about eight years and has done a magnificent job. He has experience in sport and business and this would serve him in good stead. He has great administrative ability and the West Indies cannot go wrong by making Willie the president of the Board,” said Davis.
Trinidad and Tobago have failed to deliver when it comes to success at regional cricket. This criticism comes from Alloy Lequay, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC). The long serving Lequay was at the time addressing the first graduation ceremony of cricketers at the much heralded Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Academy at Couva. “Based on our players performance on the regional scene I must say there is a lack of consistency and truly we have not delivered what is expected of us. While we must be elated over the physical infrastructure and the facilities for coaching and training we have put in place, we need to be realistic and recognise that the journey now starts,” said Lequay. “Until we can claim dominance on the regional scene and enjoy the satisfaction of making a substantial contribution to the resurgence of West Indies cricket, we must admit that we have not delivered what is expected of us,” he said.
Director of the Academy, former Test wicketkeeper Deryck Murray was in attendance and said there must be a change in the philosophy of cricket to allow development to flourish. Murray was directly involved with the coaching and planning of the programme for the 15 players who attended the academy since last year. The players graduating were Imran Jan, Asif Jan, Gregory Mahabir, Gibran Mohammed, Zaheer Ali, Rodney Sooklal, Theodore Modeste, Navin Chan, Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Rampaul, Kenton Thompson, Amit Jaggernauth, Denzil James, Samuel Badree and Sherwin Ganga. Wicketkeeper Navin Chan was voted the in-ductee who best symbolises the character and significance of the one-year training programme. He received a trophy from Maxim Marquez representing the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. The first year’s expense for running the academy was met by PowerGen whose CEO Garth Chatoor called on the youngsters to work hard and break into the top bracket of West Indies cricket.
THE REVIVAL Boxing Gym caravan returns to Longdenville, Central Trinidad today for a second session in a bid to revive the sport in rural districts. Yesterday, Allan Ferguson, assistant manager and programme co-ordinator of the Port-of-Spain based boxing club said he was encouraged by the response he got last weekend at the Longdenville Community Centre. He is counting on a similar response today from 9.30 am when his team goes into action. Spearheading the effort is top national coach Rufus Edwards who has more than 30 years experience in the sport. Edwards has been certified by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and is recognised by the Cuban Boxing Federation. He was also voted “Coach of the Year” in 1998 and is widely accepted as one of the leading figures in the sport locally.
Ferguson, a former national amateur middleweight champion, said that Revival, which was established more than five decades ago at the then Woodbrook Youth Centre aims to bring back credibility to the amateur sport through a series of coaching sessions. Apart from demonstrations in the correct technique and lectures on other aspects of the fight game, Edwards will also enlighten participants on the basics of coaching so that after the Revival caravan rolls out, the community will still benefit from what had been handed down. “We have every confidence in our coach. Edwards has been sidelined by the present administration but we intend to use his experience and proven skills to revive the sport throughout Trinidad and Tobago,” said Ferguson yesterday. He said Revival is managed by Senator Arnim Smith, a United National Congress (UNC) representative who has produced and managed several top fighters including Aldrick Johnson, Jimmy Joseph, Dane Mitchell, and Jules De Gannes. Johnson is a former World Boxing Council No 4 rated featherweight; lightweight Joseph is ex- No 1 contender for the World Boxing Association lightweight crown; while Mitchell was an outstanding talent and regional champion and Caribbean “Fighter of the Tournament” in Jamaica three years ago. De Gannes is also a former regional title-holder.Yesterday Ferguson, on behalf of Revival, expressed his condolences to the family and friends on the sudden death of Mitchell, one of their outstanding fighters. Mitchell was fatally shot in Arouca last week. Ferguson slammed the Amateur Boxing Association for depriving the promising welterweight of an opportunity to advance his career when the club was suspended last year. This action, he said, played a major role in curtailing the prospects of the fighter.
